Quick detachable swivel joint



G. M. BAGNARD QUICK DETACHABLE SWIVEL JOINT Aug.l l5, 1950 Filed Feb. 18, 1948 /A/vvron M. BAG/V490 HWMHIHHIW.- NMIHH .1%.

TTOR/l/EV Patented ug. 15, '195:0

QUICK DETACHBLE SWIVEL JOINT Gus M. Bagnard, Anaheim, Calif., assignor to Chiksan Company, Brea, Calif., a corporation of California A Application February 18, 1948, Serial No. 9,099

" (ol. 28s-97.3)

11 Claims. 1

This invention relates to a quick detachable swivel joint and it is` a general object of the* invention to provide a-simple, practical joint for uid conductors, which joint employspacking to prevent leakage between the conductors renewable or replaceable without taking the joint apart, and it further involves a structure such that the several parts can be easily and quickly separated whenever desired.

Swivel joints are employed in fluid conductors or pipe lines handling various materials and are subject to a wide range of working conditions. lin some cases the materials handled are corrosive or abrasive and, consequently, affect parts of the joint, particularly the packing. In other cases pressures or speeds of operation create conditions that adversely affect parts, particularly the packings. It is highly desirable in some cases that the parts be subject to rapid separation to facilitate cleaning and removal or inspection.

lt is a general object of the present invention to provide a joint construction for handling iiuids and including a packing between the relatively movable elements, which packing can be easily and quickly removed or replaced without disturbing the mechanical couple joining the elements.

Another object of the invention is to provide a construction of the general character referred to in which a quick removable packing is provided in combination with easily removable antifriction bearing means that couples the relatively rotatable elements, which packing and bearing means ,are retained in working position by a single member. j

.A further object of the present invention to provide a construction of the general character referred to in which packing is located to operate in a most advantageous manner and yet is accessible from the exterior of the `structure for removal or replacement without separation or manipulation of the principal coupled elements or uid conducting parts.

`A further object of the present invention is to provide a construction of the general character referred to in whichbut one part needs to be separated or detached from the structure as a wholein order to render the packing accessible for removal or replacement; a

Another object of the invention is to provide a structure of the general character referred tc involving a single'unitary'arcuate insert that is retained by a single retaining sleeve, Vbut which normally occupies ithe access -opening through which .the packing is removable.

A further object ofthe present invention is to 2 provide a construction of the general character referred to in which the arcuate insert that occupies the access passage is engageable by a suitable tool so it can be handled easily and quickly. j

Another object of the present invention is to provide a packing ring and insert movable into and out of working position in a joint construction through a lateral passage in one of the connected elements, which ring and insert are engageable by a suitable tool so they can be handed easily and quickly.

The various objects and features of my invention will be fully understood from the .following detailed description of a typical preferred form and application of the invention, throughout which description reference is made to the ac companying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a longitudinal sectional view of a joint construction provided by the present invention snowing it connected between two pipe sections.

2 is a transverse sectional view taken as indicated by line 2-2 on Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a transverse sectional view of the structure taken substantially as indicated by line 3--3 on Fig. 1. Fig. 4 is an enlarged detailed sectional View of a portion oi Fig. l. Fig. 5 is a View of certain parts of the structure such as are shown in Fig. 2 of the drawings, illustrating them separated or apart. Fig. 6 is a side or edge View of the packing unit employed in the construction, and Fig. 7 is an enlarged transverse sectional View of the packing unit in its normal expanded position, being a view taken as indicated by line -l on Fig. 6. i

The construction provided by the present invention is such that it can be used to advantage in swivel connections oi' various styles or forms. However, it can be used to particular advantage in connecting fluid conductors or fluid conducting elements. In the case illustrated it is used in connection with two tubular elements A and B and these elements are shown joined to pipe sections P. The sections A andB may be of various sizes and shapes, that is, they may be angular or simple straight tubular parts. In the drawings they are shown as simple straight tubular parts of limited axial extent, making the joint or swivel connection a simple, compact structure.

The element A is a female element or section of the structure and involves an enlarged inner or main end portion l0 having a socket opening H formed therein, and having an outer end portion I2 to which a pipe section P is connected. The element B is a male part 4or male section having an inner end portion or spindle part I3 that enters the socket opening II of section A and havrtion P connects. The outer end portions YI2 and YI- o f the parts or sections YA and B are shown as internally threaded to receive the ears of the pipe sections P. The constructiojnprovided bythe present in'- vention ifi-voltios, generally, the Vsections' AV and B'l above referred to, bearing means `C coupling the sections and rotatably supporting them one ironie the other, .packing meansV D preventing-leakagebetween the sections, an inserirlir rioir'ih/` 'occupyng an access opening I5 ti'irongh-.Lwhichthes packing means is inserted intoop'eratirrgiposi-tion,

a retainer F for the insert E and the bearing means C, and lock means G for-the retainer. a The body portion I0 of the female section A has the socket openingll entering ittfom outer or free end and the opening or socket YI i is preferably arf/simple,-- straightlborefextending into thebody# lelgand-.terminatingrin av'bottomor shoulV tion-I3 and coupler 'portion Hi are o1 `the same external diameter,n the spindle part` I?, being a simple turnedltparlt that ts: the socket opening lifior rotation therein. v Afsniall recess is-r provided Y in the exterior of: the spindle: I3 near the. outer end or mouth oft-ne. sealing I-iringzvlirf The.l bearngemeans oonplesV the sections A socketv opening-.to carry a anduB'agai-nst :separation andaprovidesfan antiriction bearing .betweeri" the' sections. InVK .the

. preferredtiormlof: the invention. thetmeansf C- in-I volvesonesoi rnore'vrowsofaballs Inthe case illustrated; therefarestworaxially spaced rows of. ballsthefextorior off: the spindle irof: section B being.provided)wither-grooves 2l t'hatfregisten 1with grooves: Zuintlieiwall-rof. the bierev Ii form- Ving.enannals that carry thetballs. In accordance witlie the;l present* invention n'access openings or nels tothe exterlior'of body vLil-fof section A and i areoi` suchysize'as to allow the .balls to be. passed into and out of position in the channelsgln accordance;- Withqrthe'l preferredl arrangement The. exterior 2 I- or".Y

Ving an outerend portion I4 to which a pipe sec- 4 have inwardly projecting lip portions 38 which are normally divergent, as shown in Fig. 7 and which, therefore, have bearing'or pressure engagement with the bottom 253 and end 31 when in operating position as shown in Fig. 4.

The frame 36 of the packing u nit is preferably va metal ring that surrounds or is engaged withV {the-exterior o'ithe bodym A'feature of construction provided by tire-present'invention isY one or more openings in the frame of the packing unit engageable by'a suitable tool to facili-Y tate-w handling ofV the packing unit. In the particularc'as illustrated' there are'several open ings 40- circiimferenially spaced around the @trainde/nde each-'opening is threaded to receive the threadedrslianllI of a suitable operating tool T, A suitable handle may be provided on the louter end of the shank 4I. Y Y

ofthe drawingse Inlaecordance withmyinvenpassages 3i? extendl from. theball carrying. chantherefisone accessopening or passage Safor eachv ball :carrying channeland the 2passages open at.V

thelreduced'portion; 2 2 of the body IIL.

Y T hepacking meansDmay, in-accordance with Y thebroader principles o f the invention, be'of any suitable form'f'or character; It is 'preferred thattha-packing means involve a single unitarypaclge ing.rnember;or element such asia packingy ring. The; particular ring illustrated in the drawings involves anfannnlar'body' of deformable materia-l and a fra-me i-o'n or 4in-. connectic n with the it isf ordinarily.desirableV to;

ringv vlfienlinY place isbetween the bottoniV or the' SQCl?inisection` A andgthe inner end 31 of the-spindle part-ifof sectionE B. YIn suchcase it;V Y iadeslble that thefbody 35 otite-packing riren. the particular ease illustrated the packing` Thepresent invention provides means whereby Y the packing ring above described may be arranged v in and removed t from: operating positioncwithout disengagement of tho-spindle: li-fromfsocket. YI I.. To facilitate:snohoperation a laterally extending, access openingflisrprovidedl in. the 'body I9 ofv sectiorlry which.. access opening enters. fromV one' side of the bodyffl Yand extendsvaboutl half-way throughthe body-7 as `shown inFigsp 1'; 2` and 5v tion the access passage or openingI `Ili'ris made wideY enough. axially i of the structure' to pass the packing. ringY intof andi out of position andY it isi preferredthatv it. be 'formed Vsoutlatfi it "has one` wall; Scoinci'dentalfwithtthe end 3.7i ofi the spin'- dle I3 `so'that: the: packing ring: will slide: freely over these parts without. dangerzot injury.

Theinsert provided: by the presenti invention is anfarcuate orse'gmental membensubstantially: semi-'circular .forni andrei' such extentd axially andradiallyVV as.l to-'occupy -thefaccess' opening or passage l|15 when info'peratingi. positiongfas shown in Figs.' 1,-2rand44-'S of the-drawings-r-J When the insert isin.` `opeifatirigiY position-its r inner Ywall 5SA registers' with and forms-f -afrcontinuatonl of the;

wallI ofther-bore: 'H' While outer-Walk 54l .regis-V ters with-andfformsL-a-ootinuation of the wall of position: itserves Vtofpo'snivelyi retainthe packing ring; in operating:'positionconcentrically-in. the

f structure bietvveen,ltfieslioulder` or bottom Z0' and the end1-3i. V VAe'atii're-off tlieinsert E is therprog visionof lanlopeningthereinvfor the reception Y of abend-ling tool.- tne YeaseVinustrated the opening 55 is shown threaded to receive thelshank Y @Mot the operatingtoollr'l. Theopening `55may :be the jsamefsize Vand threaded' the same as' .the

opening- 46 -in ltlie--i-riarneof the -fpael`ingf ring so that a` singleoperating ftool Y eanrbe usedforf-han @lling-'both orthes-'plsf The Vrei-aimerv is-preferably a `single simple tubuiarpartf orsie've VAt e shiftabiy supported on the exterior of tliebo'dy VIll-,`-preferablyon the' re;` 'Y duce'd ir-turned 'parti' as shown throughout the drawing'si- It is preferredals'o that the'retainejr sleeve et bei Surah as to-retain both the' insert El Y and thebaiiszzaof the tearing, meansjo; It willA be apparent from theY drawingshow the sleeve ii'i` mayreadilybe made. @f suiiicient arialv extentto f simultaneously cover theaceess openings^ wand also thefaccessY passagel asshownin Fig. V1 off Y' n the drawings.- v

' yThe sleeve GIljis V`intended toibo shitedaxially.

on the body I `tof:uncover onrelease'theinsert E for .separation from? the structure' and vit may also be shifted axially to uncover the access openings 30.

In the particular case illustrated the sleeve-60 is provided with ports 6| shiftable into and out of register with the access openings 30 while the sleeve is maintained in position retaining the. insert F in operating position. With this construction the sleeve 60 can be rotated as between the position shown in Fig. 3 and a position where the port 6I registers with opening 30 by mere rotation of the sleeve and without shifting it axially. It is to be understood, of course, that the ports 6I are made large enough so that when they are registered with the openings 30 the balls can be readily passed into and out of operating position in the structure.

The locking means G preferably involves a single part or member such as an elongate threaded part lil normally engaged in an opening 1| in the sleeve 60 and an opening 'I2 in the body l0. When the openings 1I and 'I2 register they receive the member l and the ports 6| are out of register with the openings 30. In the preferred construction the member 10 is threaded into both the opening 'H and the opening 12 and when it is desired to operate the retainer 60 the member 'iii is disengaged from opening 'l2 leaving it projecting only from the exterior of the sleeve Sill forming a convenient operating handle.

In practice it is preferred that the member 'l0 be tubular so that it may be used to conduct lubricant to the balls confined in the structure. In the preferred form of construction illustrated a head 14 is provided on the outer end of members l0 to receive an operating tool and a head 'l5 is provided to receive lubricant handling equipment.

Certain aspects of the construction above described and particularly the bearing means involving the balls to be passed into and out of position through the access opening` 30 `and the sleeve controlling the access openings and locked by the member 10, are more fully described and are claimed as such in my copending application entitled Ball Type Swivel Connection, Serial Number 9,098, filed on even date herewith now Patent No. 2,512,005, issued on June 20, 1950.

Having described only a typical preferred form and application of my invention, I do not Wish to be limited or restricted to the speciiic details herein set forth, but wish to reserve to myself any variations or modifications that may appear to those skilled in the art and fall within the scope of the following claims.

Having described my invention, I claim:

1. A joint construction of the character described including, a female section having a socket entering it from one end and having a lateral access opening extending from the exterior of the section to the socket, a male section with a spindle part entering the socket, means rotatably coupling the sections with the spindle part in the socket, a packing unit insertable into the socket through the access opening and normally sealing between the sections, an insert separable from said sections and from the packing unit and normally occupying the access open- Y ing, the insert being confined to the access opening and being removable therefrom for passage of the packing unit through the opening, and means releasably retaining the insert in the opening.

2. A joint construction of the character described including, a female section having a socket entering it from one end and having a lateral access opening extending `from th ek-l terior of the section to the socket, a male section with a spindle part entering the socket, balls engaged between the spindle part and socket rotatably coupling the sections with Vthe spindle part in the socket, an yannular packing unit insertable into the socket through the access opening to be entirely within the socket and normally sealing between the sections, a segmental insert normally occupying the access opening and overlying the packing unit to eonne it in the socket,.

the insert being removable from the accessv opening for passage of the packing unit through the opening, and means releasably retaining the insert in the opening. l

3. A joint construction of the character described including, a female section having a socket entering it from one end and having a lateral access opening extending from` the exterior of the section to the socket, a male section with a spindle part entering the socket, means rotatably coupling the sections with thespindle part in the socket, an annular packing `unit ofiuni,` form cross sectional configuration and insertable into the socket thro-ugh the access opening and normally sealing between the sections, a semicircular insert separate from the said sections and from the packing unit and normally occupying the access opening, the insert being removable from the opening for passage of the packing unit through the opening, the interior of said insert being of such curvature as to seat on the exterior of the packing unit, and means releas; ably retaining the insert in the opening.

4. A joint construction of the character dee scribed including, a female section having a socket entering it from one end and having a lateral access opening extending from theexterior of the section to the socket, a male section with a spindle part entering the socket, means rotatably coupling the sections with the spindleV part in the socket, an annular packing unit insertable into the socket through the access opening and normally sealing between the sections, an insert normally occupying the access opening to retain the packing unit and removable from the opening for passage of the packing unit through the opening, and means releasably retaining the insert in the opening, the packing unit including a ring of rubber and a reinforcing rame, the frame having a threaded tool receiving opening.

5. A joint construction of the character described including, a female section having a socket entering it from one end and having a lateral access opening extending from the exterior of the section to the socket, a male section with a spindle part entering the socket, balls in the socket retaining the spindle part in the socket for rotation therein, there being a ball passing port in the female section from said means to the exterior of the female section, a packing ring in the socket between the bottom of the socket and the inner end of the spindle part and insertable into position through the access opening, an insert normally occupying the access opening and retaining the packing ring in the socket, and a single member carried by the female section normally closing the access opening and the port.

6. A joint construction of the character described including, a female section having a socket entering it from one end and having a lateral access opening extending from the exterior of the section to the socket, a male sec- 

